The Beaumont Police Department SWAT Team was formed in the early 70's. Members of the SWAT Team came from every division within the Department , as they do now. The Team was formed to counter an ever increasing rise in violence and weapons used by criminals.

As in the beginning , current SWAT Team members work daily jobs throughout the department and respond to situations ,as needed. The main difference current SWAT Team members have over their predecessors is the amount and quality of training required to perform their duties. Technological advances in weaponry and equipment has also allowed current Swat Teams better opportunities to complete their duties.

The current Beaumont Police Swat Team consists of 22 officers. Each member has regular duties within the department and are on 24 hour call , as needed . The Team members train together each month and attend training schools to maintain skills and to learn new techniques.

With the added advances in weaponry and equipment , the training has also risen to a very high level. Our team has trained with many different SWAT Teams , including Houston , Dallas and San Antonio SWAT. As a member of the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association (TTPOA) , this has become a fairly routine training source. We also conduct significant training with current and former Military Special Forces Operators.

To apply our learned skills , the BPD Swat Team regularly attends the annual Texas State Swat Competition , sponsored by TTPOA , where Teams from all over the state compete in a grueling three day competition. There are regularly 30 to 40 Swat Teams , from across the state competing. In the past 10 years BPD has finished as high as 3^rd and has only finished out of the top 10 on 2 occasions.

The BPD Swat Team was also invited to the World Swat Challenge , which included five other Texas Teams (Houston , Austin , Dallas , SanAntonio and Plano).Other Teams included LAPD and numerous other Teams across the United States. There were also several International Teams represented including the German National anti-terrorist unit GSG9. Beaumont Swat finished tied for 4r^th place , with LAPD Swat , in the first World Swat Challenge (held in Las Vegas) and finished 10^th in the second.

To illustrate the level of skills represented by not only Beaumont PD , but Texas Swat Teams as a whole , in each of these two competition no fewer than four Texas Teams finished in the top 10. This shows the level of competition and skills regularly illustrated in the annual Texas Competition. Furthermore , in the first World Competition BPD Swat attended , Sgt. Alfred Johnson and Officer Jerry LaChance finished first (1rst) in a two - man sniper challenge event.

Beaumont PD is very proud of the accomplishments and dedication of the BPD Swat Team and it’s officers. Beaumont PD Swat is also very proud to serve the citizens of Beaumont.